Fire-cracker.



No. 692,769. A. DEI-GRANDE. Patented Feb. 4,-1902.

FIRE GRACKER. (Application med Nov. V11, 4901.)A

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT -EEICR ANTONIO DELGRANDE, on PETERSBURG, vIRGINIA, As'sIGNOR OF TWO- THIRDs TO ROBERT H. SEARURY AND NIoI-IOLAsDELoRANDE, onL

. FIR'E-ORACKER- SPECIFICATION forming part 0f Letters atent No. 692,769,- dated February 4, 1902.

Application filed November 11, 1901. Serial No. 81,923. (Nomodel.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ANTONIO DELGRANDE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Petersburg,in the county of Dinwiddie and State 0f Virginia, have invented a new and useful Fire-Cracker,of which the following is a specication. p

This invention relates to tire-crackers, and more particularly to that class known as cannon-crackers. V

The object of the invention is in a simple, thoroughly efficient, and practical manner to eliminate the element of dangerattending the use of lire-crackers of the above description, and which Ahas caused their use to be prohibited in certain sections, and at the same time to impart added novelty to the cracker when tired. v

vWith these and other objects in view,A as y will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the 'same consists, generally stated, in combining with the fire-crackerA an element capable of giving a visual signal to indicate that the fuse is properly ignited and is burning or thatthe fuse is extinguished or of 'elementscapable of giving a combined vvisual 'and audible signal for the same purpose. Y

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part'of this specification, and in which like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts, there are-illustrated two forms of embodiment of the invention capable of car' rying the same into practical operation, it being understood that the elements therein exhibited maybe varied or`changed as to shape, l

proportion, and exact'manner of assemblage without departligfroni the scope of the invention, and in these drawings- Figure 1 is a view in sectional elevation, exhibiting a nre-cracker constructed` to give a visual signal to indicate that the cracker is ignited and that an explosion will follow. Fig.,2 is a similar view exhibiting a firecracker constructed to give first a visual and then ,any audible signalfer the purpose above stated.

Referring to the drawings and to Fig. 1 thereof, 1 designates the shell or body of the lthe ring end being closed by a plug 4, pref erably of tire-clay and located` some distance within the said end. Housed, Within the shell above the plug 4 is a body of illuminating material 5, which is adapted upon ignition to burn with a distinctive color-such as red, blue, green, or the like-the said material being any one ofthe chemical compounds or other substances employed for the purpose in ordinary pyrotechnic devices, and therefore needs no detailed description. The material may be tamped' or otherwise placed Within the shell and maybe spaced from the plug 4, as shown,'or may rest thereon. To shield the material from accidental ignition and also to hold the igniting-fuse 6 within the shell, the wrapper 7 projects beyond the iir' ing end thereof, as shown at 8, and is twisted around the fuse `and then pushed into the said end of the shell. As shown in the said figure, the fuse 6 is disposed against one sidev of .the shell; but it is to be understood that it may be centrally disposed thereof, if preferred.

Embedded in the compound 5 is one end of a fuse 9, which extends through the plug 4 and. into the charge of powder, and by this disposition of the parts the fuse 9 will not be ignited until the 'illuminating material is burned out, thereby giving the user of the cracker ample timevto dispose of the cracker after the fuse 6 is ignited and before the ire light, adording thereby a visual signal to show that the cracker is properly ignited.

When the material `has all been consumed, the fuse 9 is ignited and burns down and ig-l nites the charge of powder',- whereupon the explosiontakes place. J

In the form of cracker, shown in Fig. 2 the shell is constructed vin the same manner .as that shown in Fig. 1, and the charge of powderv is held in at the butt-end of the shell by the plug 3, as described. The firing end of theA cracker contains a charge of illuminating material v 10, which islheld within atube 11, of paper or any other suitable material, and embedded-inthe said material is an ignitingfuse 6, the charge of illuminating material being shielded by the'wrapper in the same IFnanner as that described in connection with Projecting through'the tire-clay plug 4 is a tube 12 containing picrate of potash, a substance which upon burning emits a shrill Whistling sound distinctive t0 that class of pyrotechnics known as whistling bombs, the upper and lower ends of the said tube being preferably provided with a plug of powder 13, by which to insure proper ignition of the whistling substance and of the charge of powder. e

In the use of the cracker constructed as above'deseribed fire is appliedto the-fuse 6 and burns down and ignites the illuminating material, which burns and gives a brilliant light, aifording thereby 'a visual signal to show that the cracker is properly ignited. When all the illuminating material is consumed, the picrate of potash is ignited and burns, giving forth a shrill whistling sound,

which-'serves as an audible signal tp show that the cracker is properly ignited and that an explosion will soon follow,and when all the picrate of potashris consumed the -ire therefrom ignites the powder, whereupon the explosion of the cracker takes place. It isV to be understood that the signals of this latter form of cracker may be transposedthat is to say, the tube containing the whistling compoundrmay be placed at the firing end of the cracker and the illuminating material beneath the same, and as this will be .readily understood detailed illustration thereof is deemed unnecessary.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that ih addition to imparting added novelty to the fire-cracker by the provision of colored fire or of the colored fire andthe Whistling compound the element of danger attend-- ing the use of these crackers is' positively eliminated, so that the objections strenuous] y urged in manylocalities against the use of cannon fire-crackers isentirely obviated.

lHaving/thus f nlly described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is`

giving a visual signal, ofv a pronounced character,and other than that produced from the smoke and iiame resulting from combustion, in advance of the explosion of the cracker.

2. A fire cracker containing a material adapted upon ignition to give a Visual signal of a pronounced character, said material constituting a means of igniting a charge of powder.

nating material and the powder.y

7. A fire-cracker containing a charge of separated therefrom by a non-combustible substance', and a holder embedded in the said substance and containing 'a whistling compound. 'M n 8. A lire-cracker containing a charge'of powder, a charge of illuminating material separated therefrom by a`non-combustible substance and in the powder and containing Pauazln'stlng compound, the illuminating ma- Fterial operating to ignite the said compound,

and the latter to ignite the powder.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto afix'e'd my signaturein the presence of two witnesses.

, ANTONI() DELGRANDE;

Vitnesses: Ro. GILLIAM,

' NICHOLAS DEL GRANDE.

1. A fire-cracker provided with means for powder, a charge of illuminating material 3. A fire-cracker provided with means forV g separatedtherefrom by a non-combustible substance, and a fuse connecting the illumisubstance, and a holder embedded in the said 

